Response efforts continue for Pacific Paradise into holiday weekend

A member of the Pacific Paradise response team prepares to dive inside the Pacific Paradise to get measurements of interior compartments on board the vessel grounded off Kaimana Beach, O’ahu, Nov. 20, 2017. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

HONOLULU — Work to prepare and remove the Pacific Paradise continued Tuesday off Kaimana Beach and will continue through Wednesday. Operations will pause Thursday in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday and will resume Friday continuing through the weekend.

Today workers are continuing to weld and patch areas in the hull, putting soft patches on the starboard side of the vessel.

Additional buoyancy equipment has arrived on island and is being prepared by responders.

Monday workers removed the old towing bridle and are preparing the vessel to receive a new one. Repairs have been made to the hull and hatches to improve watertight integrity. The vessel’s rudder was cut loose in an effort to remove more weight and prevent it from dragging when towed. Once the vessel is towed off the reef, the rudder will be recovered and removed.

Water samples are still being taken daily from the Waikiki Aquarium and tested using a fluorometer at Clean Islands Council. The Department of Health continues to test samples closer to the vessel twice a week. All samples have come back clean with no presence of petroleum hydrocarbons. Responders have not observed any sheening or marine wildlife in the vicinity of the vessel.

The site immediately around the vessel and the vessel itself are dangerous. The vessel is in a surf zone and the structure of the vessel is considered compromised. Non-response personnel should stay outside the 500-yard safety zone that remains in effect around the vessel. Advisory signs were posted at the entrances to Kaimana Beach as well as on the Pacific Paradise.